Mangosteen is a fruit grown in Thailand and Myanmar whose rind (the
mangosteen pericarp) appears to have
some medicinal properties. The hull of the mangosteen fruit has been used for many
years in Southeast Asia as a medicine for skin infection,
wounds, and diarrhea, and recently other interesting properties of mangosteen are slowly being revealed.
However, human trials are not available regarding mangosteen juice or mangosteen
supplement, therefore we don't know the benefit of mangosteen in clinical
practice until studies are completed.

What's in the fruit?
Mangosteen fruit has a number of compounds, the most prominent being
xanthones, a group of compounds that have antioxidant and other potent
physiological properties. Several compounds appear to be active, particularly
xanthones. Some of these xanthones include mangostin, mangostenol, mangostenone
A, mangostenone B, trapezifolixanthone, tovophyllin B, alpha- and beta-mangostins,
garcinone B, mangostinone, mangostanol, and the flavonoid epicatechin.

Mangosteen pill 500 mg (whole fruit and rind)Made from the highest quality ORGANIC mangosteen fruit material available, direct from
Thailand. The actual active ingredients, xanthones, are mostly in the
mangosteen rind
and seed, and less in the mangosteen fruit flesh. We use the whole
mangosteen fruit - rind, seed and
flesh - in order to provide you with the full spectrum of xanthones. There
are about 20 different xanthones in the whole fruit. Ninety-five percent
of this mangosteen product is rind and seed.

Suggested use: As a dietary supplement, take one mangosteen
capsule daily
or as recommended by your health care provider.

Benefit of MangosteenAt this point almost all studies with mangosteen have been done in
a laboratory and there is little human research to indicate how mangosteen
supplements or mangosteen juice would influence the prevention or therapy of various cancers,
including breast, lung, and liver, or what other benefit the compounds in mangosteen, such as xanthones, would have when ingested as a supplement.
If you come across claims that mangosteen has been proven to have health
benefit in humans, be skeptical. It may be true, but until actual long
term human trials are done, we cannot be certain about mangosteen benefits
or side effects. See also
acai berry
information.

What does the research say?
Mangosteen has compounds with antioxidant, anti-bacterial,
anti-fungal, and anti-tumor activity. Laboratory testing thus far indicates that
extracts of mangosteen have activity against several cancer cell lines
including breast, liver, and leukemia. Mangosteen also appears to have
anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties.

Benefit of Mangosteen Fruit versus the
Rind
Most of the studies with mangosteen have focused on the pericarp, or the
dark, woody rind as opposed to the fruit inside the woody rind. The pericarp
contains the active xanthone compounds. The fruit itself probably has some
beneficial compounds but the compounds within the mangosteen fruit have not been
studied as well as the mangosteen rind.

Antiproliferation, antioxidation and induction of
apoptosis by mangosteen on SKBR3 human breast cancer
cell line.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2004.
This study was designed to determine the antiproliferative, apoptotic
and antioxidative properties of crude methanolic extract from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana using human breast
cancer (SKBR3) cell line as a model system. SKBR3 cells were cultured in
the presence of mangosteen extract at various concentrations. Mangosteen
showed a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation. We found that antiproliferative effect of
mangosteen was associated with apoptosis on breast cancer cell line by
determinations of morphological changes and oligonucleosomal DNA
fragments. In addition, mangosteen at various concentrations and incubation times
were also found to inhibit ROS production. These investigations suggested
that the mangosteen extract had
strong antiproliferation, potent antioxidation and induction of apoptosis.
Thus, it indicates that mangosteen extract has potential for cancer chemoprevention which
is dose dependent as well
as exposure time dependent.

Antimicrobial effects of Thai medicinal plants against acne-inducing
bacteria.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2005.
Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis have been recognized
as pus-forming bacteria triggering an inflammation in acne. The present study
was conducted to evaluate antimicrobial activities of Thai medicinal plants
against these etiologic agents of acne vulgaris. Crude extracts were tested for
antimicrobial activities by disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. The
results from the disc diffusion method showed that 13 medicinal plants could
inhibit the growth of Propionibacterium acnes. Among those, Senna alata,
Eupatorium odoratum, Garcinia mangostana, and Barleria lupulina had strong
inhibitory effects. Our data indicated that Garcinia mangostana had a strong
inhibitory effect on Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis.
Therefore, mangosteen would be an interesting topic for further study and
possibly for an alternative treatment for acne.

Induction of apoptosis by xanthones from
mangosteen in human leukemia cell lines.
J Nat Prod. 2003.
We examined the effects of six xanthones from the pericarps of
mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana, on the cell growth inhibition of human
leukemia cell line HL60. All xanthones in mangosteen displayed growth inhibitory
effects. Among them, alpha-mangostin showed complete inhibition at 10
microM through the induction of apoptosis.

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin E2
synthesis by gamma-mangostin, a xanthone derivative in mangosteen, in C6
rat glioma cells.
Biochem Pharmacol. 2002 Jan 1;63(1):73-9.
In the present study, we examined the effect
of gamma-mangostin, a tetraoxygenated diprenylated xanthone contained in
mangosteen, on arachidonic acid cascade in C6 rat glioma cells. This study is a first demonstration that gamma-mangostin,
a xanthone derivative from mangosteen, directly inhibits COX activity.

Evaluation of the antifungal activity of natural
xanthones from Garcinia mangostana (mangosteen) and their synthetic derivatives.
J Nat Prod. 1997.
The antifungal activity of several xanthones isolated from the fruit
hulls of mangosteen and some derivatives of mangostin against
three phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum vasinfectum, Alternaria
tenuis, and Dreschlera oryzae, has been evaluated. The natural xanthones
from mangosteen
showed good inhibitory activity against the three fungi.

Active constituents against HIV-1 protease from
Mangosteen.
Planta Med. 1996.
The ethanol extract of Mangosteen showed
potent inhibitory activity against HIV-1 protease. The activity-guided
purification of the extract resulted in the isolation of two active, known
compounds. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were
established by spectroscopic analyses as mangostin and gamma-mangostin.

Mangostin inhibits the oxidative modification of
human low density lipoprotein.
Free Radic Res. 1995.
The oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) may play an important
role in atherosclerosis. We investigated the possible antioxidant effects
of mangosteen, isolated from Garcinia mangostana, on metal ion dependent
(Cu2+) and independent (aqueous peroxyl radicals) oxidation of human LDL.
From these results, we conclude that mangosteen
is acting as a free radical scavenger to protect the LDL from oxidative
damage in this in vitro system.

More Mangosteen information - The various forms of mangosteen sold
The
active xanthones are in the pericarp (husk), and not the mangosteen fruit.
Mangosteen powder is sometimes added in juices to provide more xanthones to the juice mix. This "thickens" the mixture and
adds more body. All mangosteen juice sellers refer to "shake" the bottle
before drinking to mix the powder with the juice.

Extracts:
Mangosteen Extract - There are two common mangosteen extracts; alcohol
extract and water based extracts. The extracts add more xanthones to the
drink mixes which is the active ingredient in mangosteen.

Mangosteen Fruit Puree:
Whole mangosteen fruit is crushed and some water is added for pouring, and
then put into plastic containers, frozen and then shipped from Thailand.
Companies then add other fruit juices to improve taste.

Mangosteen as breath freshener
Effects of herbal mouthwash containing the pericarp extract of Garcinia
mangostana L on halitosis, plaque and papillary bleeding index.
J Int Acad Periodontol. 2007. Department of Oral Medicine,
Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
To determine the effects of herbal mouthwash containing the pericarp extract of
Carcinia mangostana L on volatile sulfur compound levels, plaque index and
papillary bleeding index in gingivitis subjects and the recurrence of these
parameters after periodontal treatment. Sixty subjects who were diagnosed as
having mild or moderate chronic gingivitis were randomly distributed into
mangosteen rind or placebo mouthwash groups. CONCLUSION: Herbal mouthwash
containing the mangosteen pericarp extract may be used as an adjunct in treating
oral malodor.

Mangosteen press release
A recent in-vitro study entitled "Garcina mangostana Liquid Dietary Supplement
Mango-xan: Its Anti-Inflammatory Effects" showed Mango-xan Antioxidant Recovery
Formula from Pure Fruit Technologies to significantly reduce cyclo-oxygenase-2
(COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) enzymes. A considerable amount of research
has established that COX-2 and 5-LOX enzymes are elevated during pain and
inflammation. The study was presented as part of the American Chemical Society's
233rd National Meeting and Exposition held March 25 - 29, 2007 in Chicago, IL.
"This study confirms that Mango-xan may have an anti-inflammatory effect as a
result of its dual inhibitory effect on both COX-2 and 5-LOX enzymes," stated
Wayne Geilman, Ph.D., senior research scientist, Pure Fruit Technologies.
"Future steps include conducting a human clinical trial to determine the dosage
needed to elicit these results." Using established protocols, both COX-2 and
LOX-5 enzymes from human cells were isolated. The cells were then exposed to
Mango-xan in different concentrations=. COX-2
enzymes were inhibited by 97 percent when exposed to the 1 percent Mango-xan
concentration, 97 percent by the 2.5 percent concentration and 94 percent by the
5 percent concentration. 5-LOX enzymes were reduced by 98 percent, 100 percent
and 100 percent respectively.
Pure Fruit Technologies' products are made from the whole fruit and
are sold wholesale to health food retailers and distributors worldwide, as well
as direct-to-consumers online. The American Chemical Society is a self-governed
individual membership organization that consists of more than 158,000 members at
all degree levels and in all fields of chemistry. The organization provides a
broad range of opportunities for peer interaction and career development,
regardless of professional or scientific interests. The programs and activities
conducted by ACS today are the products of a tradition of excellence in meeting
member needs that dates from the Society's founding in 1876.

Mangosteen Juice and Fruit emailsQ. I would like to know how the mangosteen capsule
compares to the juice.
A. The mangosteen capsules are pure mangosteen
including the rind which has most of the active xanthones while the
mangosteen juice has mostly the fruit and other fruit juices. Mangosteen
capsules and mangosteen juice are different but there are no studies that
compare the two in humans so it is difficult to say which is the healthier
to take in the long.

Q. Is the mangosteen
product an extract, or the real fruit? Is it organic? Also, my husband has
c. pneumoniea (mycoplasma) bacteria associated with CFS, and is on long
term antibiotics, and has been on 10 oz a day of Xango mangosteen. Can he
take 6 pills or so to equal the equivalent in Mangosteen juice? Have you
had any experience as to whether the pills at higher doses, can actually
kill the bacteria, like mycoplasm, as effectively as an antibiotic? Do you
have any 'testimonials' about your mangosteen pills?
A. We have no idea what the equivalence would be
between the mangosteen capsules and the juice. There are dozens of
different manufacturers and they each mix mangosteen juice with various
other fruit juices (to make it more palatable), so we basically would be
comparing apples and oranges. By the way, the other juices would have
health benefits, too.
Both mangosteen / fruit juices and mangosteen powder in
capsules are likely to be beneficial, but one can't say over the long run
which is better. We don't know whether high doses of mangosteen can kill
bacteria in the body since such human studies have not been done. This
mangosteen product is organic.

Q. Someone told me that mangosteen
has a short shelf life. (they also want me to buy their xango product) any
merit to this?
A. Most herbal constituents have a very long half life
and can stay active for many years or even decades is stored properly. We
have no evidence that mangosteen is any different.

Q. For personal use, I am not interested in using a mangosteen juice but in
capsules mainly consisting of the pericarp. In view of this, I would appreciate
to have more information on the mangosteen product provided by you, e.g. on the
orac value per pill, etc. Looking at some of the products available on the
market I was struck by the exceptional high orac value attributed to a product
which, according to ayurceutics, would have been obtained though an extraction
process with water and alcohol. Since xanthones are not well soluble in water. I
have been wondering whether the high orac value of 2150 would be completely due
to the products derived from the pericarp.
A. We have not done ORAC values on our product. We think ORAC
values are overrated and do not give a true prcture of the benefits of a
product. Xanthones act in a variety of ways besides antioxidants. Relying mostly
on antioxidant values misses the overall influence of these substances on the
whole body.

Q. I am wanting to purchase the following product for a friend who has
cancer: Mangosteen capsules, supplement, xanthones from whole fruit, thai
mangosteen juice and drink alternative. She is currently drinking a bottle of
mangosteen juice per day in her battle and in New Zealand that equals $50/day
which can't afford. Could you let me know how many of the suppliment capsules
would be the equivalent to a bottle of xango juice, or give me an idea of the
maximum that has been taken in trials on the suppliment itself. I need to know
how much to order for her for a two month period. Many thanks. I hope you can
help me in some way.
A. It is difficult to say since different mangosteen juice
products are different in teir potency, but a rough guess would be to start with
4 or 5 capsules a day and increase as needed and tolerated and approved by her
doctor. We wish her well.

Nutrients in mangosteen fruit
Mangosteen fruit packed with antioxidant xanthones, and it tastes so good that
it has been likened to vanilla ice cream. Often eaten simply as a dessert
because of the exquisite taste, mangosteen has been helping people for centuries
with its potent health benefits. In fact, it has been used as a health
supplement for hundreds of years. Now, it has taken the modern health and
functional food industry by storm as more people clamor for the use of
Mangosteen in functional beverages and nutritional supplements. Mangosteen has
been found to contain dozens of xanthones, which are mostly concentrated in the
pericarp. Each of these chemically beneficial molecules has their own specific
qualities, and no other known plant offers the same quantity and variety of
xanthones as Mangosteen. Mangosteen is also rich in vitamins and minerals such
as vitamin C, B1, B2, B6, iron, fiber, protein, calcium, phosphorous, potassium,
catechins/tannins and niacin. Mangosteen Products: Mangosteen Deluxe Juice
Concentrate, which is great for functional beverages. Mangosteen Super Orac
Powder, ideal for encapsulation and supplements, and Mangosteen 10:1, which is a
water-soluble powder extract for tasty, ready-to-drink smoothie mixes.